An eclectic collection of images of black people from all sectors of British life have been selected for an exhibition marking the importance of Black History Month in Britain this October.

Julio Etchart reminds us of the joy of the Notting Hill Carnival, which was cancelled this year due to the pandemic

The online show features 50 striking pictures on a wide range of themes with portraits, demonstrations, women at work, carnival, musicians, dancers and more featured.

More than 100 images were submitted to the show's organisers Alternative Arts, working with Tower Hamlets Council in East London, from established and emerging artists.

The final selection aims to comment on black lives past and present and the issues that confront them.

And while Black History Month is a long-running annual event, this year it has become even more relevant and important with the Black Lives Matter movement having been thrust back into the wider daily conversation, following the death of George Floyd in the US.

Commenting on the significance of Black History Month 2020, Catherine Ross, editor of the BHM website, said it was "a time to look forward and celebrate the here and now - and the future possibilities".

"In years gone by, October has been the only time of year when the UK talks about the achievements of black people in Britain.

"Hopefully, the events of 2020 will be a catalyst for black history to be shared much more widely - in museums, galleries, schools, universities, public spaces and communities."

Here we have selected some of the photos from the exhibition.

Dina Asher-Smith by Frederic Aranda


Frederic Aranda is a self-taught photographer specialising in portraiture. He's shot a multitude of famous and influential people, including Margaret Thatcher, Prince Philip, Sir Ian McKellan, Rosamund Pike and Pharrell Williams.

His portraiture, for which he also takes group shots, aims to communicate the subject's humanity and strength, expressing as much as possible about a person in one, singular image. It's earned him a place as a favourite photographer for top brand style magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar.

This picture of the British Olympic medal-winning sprinter Dina Asher-Smith sees her in a glorious Oscar de la Renta dress. It was one of several pictures he took of the athlete for Harrods magazine, which called her a "hero for the 21st Century". The picture is set up to show her physical ability and how her sights are firmly set on her sporting goals.

Three Sisters by Hussina Raja


Hussina Raja is a British Kashmiri artist, actress and director working across film, photography and performance.

Her work explores social-political issues surrounding notions of identity, heritage, belonging and culture. Her debut short film Roots, about a young couple's struggle for acceptance, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in 2019 and screened at the 66th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.

In her photo Three Sisters, Raja portrays the young, up-and-coming actresses Joyce Omotola, Akuc Bol and Bel Adawa while they were in the cast of The Last King of Scotland at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.


Raise Your Fist by Felix Schmilinsky


Felix Schmilinsky is a German British photographer and cinematographer based in London. He shoots commercials and documentaries, including Chasing Perfect about the life of car designer Frank Stephenson, which came out on Netflix in 2019.

As a photographer, Schmilinsky specialises in impromptu images of everyday scenes, which although seemingly uncomplicated, draw the viewer in and invite him or her to create their own narrative behind the image.

This powerful picture was taken in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests in London earlier this year. Schmilinsky says simply: "A car stopped in the midst of the crowds gathering in front of the US Embassy. She got out, stepped up and raised her fist quietly."

Slave Ship by Shaïny Vilo


Shaïny Vilo is a French, UK-based photographer, artist and musician. Of his most recent project Afro + Punk, Vilo says it's "an autobiographical project depicting a journey through the exploration of black identities in the alternative community and the struggles and complexities faced whilst in the middle".

Slave Ship is one of 17 images from the project. Vilo says it was inspired by the Basquiat painting of the same name, which focused on showing the trade route of slaves.

Rwanda Esther by Jenny Matthews


Jenny Matthews has spent more than 30 years as a photographer focusing in particular on depicting conflict and social issues for British newspapers, magazines and development organisations.

Matthews has covered momentous historical events including the guerrilla war and independence of Eritrea, the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the genocide in Rwanda. She's also produced award-winning books, including Children Growing Up with War and Women and War.

Some of her photo projects involve making patchworks with the images stitched into the fabric. This evocative photo is of Esther, a genocide survivor from Rwanda, from one of these works.

Electrician Loretta Lietch by Sarah Ainslie


Photographer Sarah Ainslie's work combines both personal projects and those commissioned by others. In particular, she's worked extensively with theatre companies, including the RSC, Almeida and The Royal Court.

On a personal level, Ainslie is inspired by her home turf of London's Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Islington areas and the lives of the people living there. Her work has depicted Arsenal football supporters, Smithfield Market, Spitalfields, Shoreditch at night and strip pubs in the East End.

This picture of Loretta Lietch, an electrician in East London, is from a series of Ainslie's black and white photos of local women at work, which was commissioned by Hackney Museum.

Laurence by Ade "Àsìkò" Okelarin


Conceptual photographer and artist Ade "Àsìkò" Okelarin was born in London, then spent his early years in Lagos, Nigeria before returning to London. His work explores identity, culture and heritage and he's worked for the fashion and music industry.

His work has been shown at London's South Bank Centre, The Gallery of African Art in London and the Rele Gallery in Nigeria.

This striking photo is from a series of images of black women to highlight how they feel in their skin, exploring issues such as racial prejudice, identity and spirituality.

The subject of this photo, Laurence, explains how she came to love body art.

"My skin markings and tattoos are an illustration of my spiritual growth and an appreciation of my ancestry.

"Most of the time I am very comfortable in my skin but I must admit it is something I had to learn how to do. Being in a black/west African woman's body and not being celebrated/represented wasn't easy.

"I had to learn how to love my body. The more I understood myself the easier it became."

Solace by David Cantor


David Cantor is a photographer who says "street portraiture is my passion".

"This wonderful genre comes with endless opportunities to interact with people from all walks of life, ethnicity and backgrounds," he continues.

A number of his images have been selected for special recognition, including his portrait Abdel Tavares, which was was one of the photographs chosen to be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize.

This heart-warming image was taken on a warm summer's day in a community garden in London.

London Lockdown by Tom Ferrie


Tom Ferrie is a photographer based in London. He has travelled extensively around South East Asia, India, Europe, Central America and Africa.

This image of a lady shopping was taken in Turnpike Lane, in the London borough of Haringey in June 2020 in the week that the shops reopened during lockdown.

The London boroughs hit worse by the pandemic all had large BAME communities. This includes Brent, Haringey, Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

The image is from a series of Ferrie's photographs taken at the height of the pandemic.

In a demonstration of military modernization, the Queen of Thailand successfully piloted a Swedish-made Gripen aircraft, reinforcing the defense partnership between Bangkok and European aerospace manufacturers.
Police and naval units intercepted a massive narcotics cargo in the Gulf of Thailand, highlighting how transnational syndicates are using Thai coastal waters as a transit hub for synthetic drugs.
The Japanese automotive giant has formally requested targeted financial assistance and tax exemptions from Bangkok, citing severe operational impediments caused by regional flooding and intense pricing pressure from heavily subsidized Chinese electric vehicle competitors.
Anticipating high seasonal arrivals, Centara Hotels and Resorts has integrated a new cross-border payment infrastructure to streamline transactions for tourists from China, India, and the Middle East.
The board of the national carrier has dismissed its top executive after significant operational breakdowns resulted in thousands of delayed bags and hundreds of canceled flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The rapid influx of energy-intensive cloud infrastructure in Indonesia's Riau Islands has triggered local backlash, as communities in Batam face critical water rationing and power grid instability.
Agricultural economists warn that prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz is constraining fertilizer imports into ASEAN, raising the risk of reduced crop yields and a potential regional food crisis.
A regional energy survey reveals that one-third of Singaporeans are open to deploying advanced nuclear technologies, reflecting anxieties over limited renewable energy options and vulnerability to fossil fuel price shocks.
As transnational crime syndicates deploy autonomous Artificial Intelligence agents to defraud citizens, security analysts are urging ASEAN governments to establish a centralized, cross-border intelligence-sharing protocol.
A new global report emphasizes that ASEAN member states must accelerate cross-border electricity sharing and diversify power sources to prevent surging domestic demand from destabilizing regional economic security.
Authorities in Thailand are weighing a new levy on departing international passengers to finance airport expansions, a move that has sparked debate among hospitality sectors concerned about price-sensitive travelers.
In a shift in diplomatic tone, President Ferdinand Marcos Junior stated that Manila is prepared for the long-scale management of maritime friction with Beijing, suggesting a preference for sustained legal and diplomatic maneuvering over immediate military tension.
The opening of a massive new waterway connecting China's southwestern hinterland to maritime routes promises to cut logistics costs for Thai and Vietnamese exporters, though regional businesses fear an influx of low-cost Chinese industrial goods.
The Japanese automaker has formally petitioned the Thai Finance Ministry for financial assistance and tax exemptions, citing operational hurdles caused by regional flooding and intense pricing pressure from Chinese electric vehicle competitors.
Relentless seasonal storms and infrastructure failures have paralyzed parts of the Eastern Economic Corridor, forcing the Thai government to launch emergency interventions to protect vital automotive manufacturing zones and regional flood defenses.
Malaysia is developing a dedicated technology zone to capture regional semiconductor and cloud computing investments, though the project comes as the nation grangles with unprecedented energy grid pressure from massive hyperscale data centers.
Facing pressure from international investors, the Indonesian president has appointed specialized technocrats to key economic ministries in an attempt to secure the foreign capital required for his national industrialization agenda.
The Singaporean foreign minister has announced leadership priorities for the city-state's upcoming chairmanship, emphasizing deeper regional economic integration and enhanced digital economy frameworks to navigate trade tensions between the United States and China.
The international ratings agency has revised Thailand's economic outlook to stable, citing strong fiscal management, a recovery in international tourism revenues, and increasing foreign direct investment within the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Trade officials in Bangkok have confirmed that bilateral negotiations for a comprehensive free trade pact have reached the final stage, a milestone expected to boost Thai agricultural, automotive, and digital exports into the European single market.
American officials have initiated direct talks with Myanmar's generals, reversing years of diplomatic isolation, while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent welcome of the junta leader in Kuala Lumpur signals a coordinated regional push for Myanmar's reintegration into ASEAN.
The Indonesian national football squad secured a historic tournament championship following a late equalizer, sparking nationwide celebrations and boosting the profile of regional sports.
A new industry analysis shows that the expanding ASEAN aviation sector supports over 23 million jobs, highlighting the importance of major airport infrastructure projects in hubs like Bangkok.
The administration of Anwar Ibrahim is working to balance essential cost-of-living relief for households against the need for subsidy reforms to maintain long-term national fiscal health.
The board of directors has dismissed the airline's chief executive following public backlash over the mishandling of passenger communications and baggage logistics during severe regional floods.
Following extreme weather that has caused dozens of deaths in Thailand since mid-September, urban development experts are calling for urgent civil engineering projects to protect the capital's economic core.
Lawmakers have implemented strict bans on the digital distribution of unsafe personal mobility vehicles to address urban pedestrian safety concerns and domestic fire hazards.
Authorities in southern Malaysia have shuttered educational institutions due to deteriorating air quality, while Indonesian courts face negligence complaints regarding agricultural fires driving the regional crisis.
In a move to deepen defense ties, Polish leadership is in the Philippines to negotiate military aviation contracts and align strategic interests regarding regional sovereignty.
National and municipal authorities are directing significant capital into seapert and multimodal transport infrastructure to transform the Hai Phong area into a competitive international maritime hub.
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has backed a proposed arrival fee for international visitors to fund an insurance pool intended to cover unpaid hospital bills and maintain care standards.
Authorities in Jakarta have committed to ending the conversion of pristine forests into rice paddies as part of a shift toward more sustainable agricultural intensification and food security.
Diplomatic and labor delegations from both nations are working to finalize a new regulatory agreement by year-end to resolve exploitation issues and secure the flow of essential labor into Malaysia.
President Ferdinand Marcos has arrived in Singapore for a five-day working visit aimed at attracting foreign direct investment into the Philippines' domestic technology and infrastructure sectors.
Energy ministers from across Southeast Asia have inaugurated a new institutional body designed to harmonize utility frameworks and facilitate multi-billion dollar investments into an interconnected regional electricity grid.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore will use its upcoming leadership of the regional bloc to push for deeper economic integration and stronger trade partnerships to navigate global volatility.
The Laotian government has introduced new resource nationalism policies requiring all extracted minerals to be processed domestically before export to capture higher industrial value and increase national revenue.
Domestic financial institutions across Vietnam are seeking massive capital injections from international and regional investors to expand lending capacity and support the country's rapid industrialization.
Malaysian infrastructure and technology authorities have commenced development of a large-scale technological hub aimed at attracting global semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence data centers to compete with Singapore.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that negotiators are drafting the final stages of a sweeping trade pact designed to strengthen Thailand’s position within global manufacturing and technology supply chains.
Cambodian and Lao energy authorities agreed to strengthen high-voltage grid connections, supporting larger flows of hydropower between the two countries and neighboring regional markets.
Norwegian shipbuilder VARD inaugurated a marine engineering and vessel design center in Ho Chi Minh City to support growing shipbuilding demand across Southeast Asia.
Malaysian sovereign funds, venture capital networks and technology agencies are allocating capital to local chip design and advanced packaging companies to strengthen the country’s electronics industry.
Chinese technology companies are increasing spending on regional data centers and cloud services as businesses across ASEAN adopt more artificial intelligence tools and digital financial platforms.
Indonesian authorities and Danantara are preparing several major state-owned companies for potential listings in 2027 as part of efforts to deepen the Jakarta capital market and attract institutional investors.
Bangkok authorities are rolling out electric river boats, additional skywalks and cycling lanes under the Car Free 2026 initiative to reduce congestion and emissions across the capital.
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand signed a letter of intent with aviation and tourism partners to turn passenger stopovers at Bangkok airports into curated travel experiences aimed at increasing visitor spending.
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